Spreader with means to adjust the discharge therefrom



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imam a E. A. JUZWIAK April 7, 1953 SPREADER WITH MEANS TO ADJUST THE DISCHARGE THERE-FROM Fild April'29. 1950 E. A. JUZWIAK April 7, 1953 SPREADER WITH MEANS TO ADJUST THE DISCHARGE THEREFROM FiledApril 29. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v mmvrog Q Fair y/2a Q Jzgzaak E. A. JUZWIAK April 7, 1953 SPREADER WITH MEANS TO ADJUST THE DISCHARGE THEREFROM Filed April 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 & INVENTOR.

[mm/a. fl /1m BY terial.

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNI ED 1 STAT S-i PATENT;

SPREADER: WITH MEANS -T0-ADJUST ration of Ill Edmond A. Juzwiak, phicago 111,, assignon, to e r1ow,.;o poi'at n, ch ir gag n I e Application April,29,-.1950,-,SerialNo. 159,013.:

11 Qlain s (CL 1 My-iinvention relates ,genera11y-. ,to vmaterial spreading apparatus of, theftype used to spread, or .,sow ,.lime, fertilizersv and other, .fluent solid chemicals; grains, grasses, legumes and. like I nato improvements in the control mechanism jor vv regulating the,,flowwof lmaterial from saigi apparatus This application is a cOntinuati ni -in art of my ,cmpending; case, ifiledi April 28, 19 i9, serial No: 90,086,,now, Patent No .,2,510,231, datedr June 6,.51950, and dentitledtspreader, which in, turn is 1 acontinuation-in-pant, of my, prior abandoned application filed June, 6, 194 7 serial No, 752,935,,

More particularly, ,my invention, relates 1 alsotentitled. Spreader. l5 Theiprincipaliproblem, in dispensing. materials I ofmthe, type specified above, isito ,maintain a; steady; event flowinof the. ,fiuent 7 solid material throughout ,thelength of, the, spreader, even though; the, material which is being handled is 20 highly cohesive, (such as for examplesuper phosph f rtili r); wet, re n or impr perl flu d. fertilizers damp and/or densely packed feeds; or, grains; or oldfertilizer which has. set up and be'comelumpv and hard. Another and related problem is that of\ dispensing such materials even,

at. such small rates 0L, discharge ,as fio pounds pernacre, ,so that highly concentrated fertilizers,

In myv divisional, application, Serial ,No. v9Q,)8 6 I disclosed in, detailapparatus wherehyfa p0 tive fioweofi material from the spreader, is I tained, even under ,the most adverse conditions.

will be, apparenthowevenjhatthe factors of both adjus ment endtwi eppera insx n e 1:0 :1 fiict with :eachmther, inasmuch as it, isuglifficult; to; provide a simple mechanism ,both (versatility and aohi h de ree. fj c u aw- Heretofore, control mechanisms for, material 1 spreadersuhave enera1ly; ,taken ,the, form o f I a levlen-swhich maybe. rn d. lat ve, t a e za r.

ratchet mechanisms are fused to ,1 ock thev oper -W ating lever inipositionkIn either event, the oper-j,

ato ymust visually alignthe lever with'what'ever scale Igradation 1 provides the desired 1 setting. This is undesirableior the reasonthat theoper f atorznlustpsually stop, the tractor or other pr me mover to set the operating lever tov the propef j position. Moreover, where the indiealtingi or set- 137' A tingoplate lons cale is on the hopp,er; as, is}iis 1ia1 the case, the operator has difiiculty iniobtain'mgf an accurate setting when seatesongthe ti'actor'.

It is thereiore a principal fob'jj ectjof inventijon toiprovide control mechanism vfor egua,

lating the flow of material froni. material spreader. which is adjustable. over a wide range of settings and accurate at eachfsetting. j Another, object ,of, my; inventionis" to provide control apparatus ofthe type specified which can be settodeliver a predetermined rate ,offlow'" each time a control leveris' actuated, and which requires'fn'o vis'iial alignment "of the lever with. ascale prthelikej Yet anotherfobjct of my invention is to proviolet control apparatus for "use with the. .feed mechanism disclo ed in inyidivis'idnzil patentap iN i' 90,085. i ct sm providecontrol mechadependable in use To the end, ofahieving the, aforesaid. objects, mx ucont spreaderincluding a" jshiftable shutter, comprises preadr'to intercept and tolimit "the movement of,, an element of ,the' control .i'neoha'inisn'iv 1 (such r as th'hah d lever) in that directibriwhich causes said shutter to open, ,the stop. ,mem ber .havin a steppeq' edge p rtion, me ns'mrsmmng the V stepped edge portion oi thestop member'relative to said element to. brifi Qdifierent steps thereof into aH gIimeiitlWith [Said element, wher by the range of movement of said element m y bpreset; and, means for releasably lockin said step meniberlin (place. f 1a 'pllieriecl'iembodimefit,p the oflradii-of difierent lengthsfand each substan tiall'y -j perpendicular lytoTiits respective" dius,

lcont'rol mechanism for regulating "the, flow 0:, materialffrom m teriali spreader, isfchaii of thefsteQS "detent surfaces; to interce t, the" controlglever thefsamef effective dischrg i p inedr gp a A i sl e l'e nsii n iii,

Im'echanisjm. .foi'i use; with a" material" any attention on the part of the operator, who may therefore focus his entire attention on the operation of the tractor or other prime mover. (2) There is no need for the operator to stop the tractor to set the control mechanism in the open position, since the control lever can be positioned so that the operator need only reach back to grasp it and to open the shutter. (3) In a preferred embodiment, the entire adjustment is achieved by merely rotating a small plate which is approximately five inches in diameter, yet which provides for adjusting the rate of flow from between 50 pounds to 2000 pounds of material per acre, while at the same time providing for a corresponding adjustment for different sizes of seeds, grains, and legumes.

In order that my invention may be more fully disclosed, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of apparatus embodying the foregoing and such other principles, advantages or capabilities as may be pointed out as this description proceeds, or as are inherent in the present invention. For purposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit, and the accompanying drawin which it is mounted on the material spreader;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom view illustrating the manner in which the effective discharge area through which the material is discharged, may be adjusted using my invention;

Figure 5 is'a fragmentary side view taken in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom view showing the shutter plate in the full open posiiton;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front view takenin section on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view taken in section on the line 88 of Figure 7 and showing a portion of the material feeding mechanism;

and

Figure 9 is a side view in section on the line 9-9 of Figure '7, showing another portion of the material feeding mechanism.

Like reference characters designate like parts in the drawings and in the description thereof following hereafter.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 5 thereof, a material spreader is shown as including a hopper designated generally by the numeral l0 and comprising a bottom plate II, a front walll2 and a rear wall l3 secured thereto, and end walls l4 and 15. Two angle irons l6, l6 extend lengthwise of the bottom plate H and on each side thereof, respectively, to provide transverse stiff-' ening of the hopper l0. Additional stiffening is provided by the gussets H at each cornerof the hopper l0. Internally, the hopper i0 is reinforced by a vertical center post l8, while a pair'of coverlids-Hl and is hinged to the .43 tails of the flow regulator plate and the manner 4 front wall l2, said lids l9 and 20 being secured in place by means of the handles 2| and 22.

As it best shown in Figures 4 and 7, the bottom plate H includes a plurality of discharge ports 23 each of which comprises a substantially diamond shaped discharge area 24 and a slot 25 or channel portion extending across one corner of the area '24 and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bottom plate H. The apparatus further includes a pair of shutters 26 and 2? slidable along the bottom of the hopper l 0 relative to the discharge ports 23. A plurality of guide members 28 are spaced along the bottom of the plate H and act to support and guide the shutters 26 and 21. Each of the guide members 23 is provided with a pair of spring tongues 23 and 33 the purpose of which is to hold the shutters 26 and 2'! in abutment with the bottom plate I I, yet permit reciprocal sliding movement therealong.

Each of the shutters 26 and 21 includes a plurality of unmutilated diamond-shaped apertures 3| which are registrable with the discharge areas 24 of the discharge ports 23, upon sliding said shutters 26 and 21 relative to the bottom plate H.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, a center bridging member 32 is secured to the lower legs of the angle irons I6, l6. Extending from the front portion of the bridging member 32 is a drawbar 33 provided with a tractor hitch 34 at the free end thereof. A pair of tie rods 35 and 33 interconnect the front angle iron 6 with the drawbar 33, while a third tie rod 37 is connected to the top of the front wall l2. A stud 38 projects downwardly from the bridging member 32, and acts as a pivot about which the bell crank 39 rotates, said bell crank being retained on the stud 38 by the washer 46 and the cotter pin 4|. Two pivot pins 42 and 43 are carried by the bell crank 39 eccentric of the stud 38, and are pivotally connected to the links 44 and 45, respectively. An eye bolt 46 adjustably secured to the link 44 connects said link to the pin 41 onthe shutter 26, While a corresponding eye bolt 48- is connected to the pin 49 on the shutter 21.

By turning the bell crank 39 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, it is apparent that the shutters 26 and 27 will each move away from the bridging member 32, and thereby reduce the effective discharge area defined by the discharge ports 23 and the apertures 3!. Conversely, as the bell crank 39 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the shutters 26 and 21 will move inwardly toward the bridging member 32, and thereby increase the effective discharge area through which the material is dispensed (Figure 6).

The bell crank 39 may be conveniently rotated to give the desired setting of the shutters 26 and 27, through movement of the control lever 50 (Figures 1 and 3). Said control lever 50 is pivotally mounted on the pin 5! carried by the strut 52 secured between the drawbar 33 and the tie rod 31. The lower end portion 53 of the control lever 50 extends through the slot 54 in the drawbar 33 (Figures 2 and 3) and is drivably connected to the bell crank 39 through the connecting rod 55. When the handle 56 of the control lever 50 is pushed away from the hopper H], the bell crank 39 turns in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4. In this way the shutters 26 and 21 may be moved to cover completely the discharge ports '23. As further shown in Figure 1, the drawbar 83 is provided with a hitch whereby:-the-ispreademnaysbesconnectedzta a tractorrather:pmpellingumeansma Thus; he

handle 5.6 =wi1l ,benin closezproximitycztoszthe drivers ofrthe pullingz vehicle, isosmthfltr said river; can,

quickly 01058 theedischargez; ports fizbyswareachingx;

- formed in" the regulator: plate 5T; aszshown-cc: As 1;

best {shown inlrFigurexfihthe lower end: portionc53; ofr th'e r'controlzslever r5ila1zcamrotnmove; along: the slot :5 0 beyond: th'e'tparti'cular; stop;v edge :5 030m 6 l1; intersecting: the: samerz. The operator: can there-2*; forer adjust :the degree- :01? :registration between; the aapertures Sl and the discharge: 13011181231103? positioningthe regulator plate 5'!) so that the lap-- propriate stop edge:60,:or Ellis in alignment with. the-slot 54; v2 In the example'iof Figure '2,the first; series" ofistop edges'; B05. is Zmarked to readrinpounds of '-material:.dischargedafor .each acre of ground. covered, while the second series :of: stop edges 6| is marked intvarioussdegrees of openings commensurate "with "the proper sowing: of grains, grasseselegumes;:etcn. Whenrthe DI'OjGGtiOI'lSZ is. aligned-with the slot 54,. .the control-leveriil' is locked against opening, :so that the. shutters 2B and '21 cannot inadvertently shift to open thedischarge ports 23. on theuother hand, the dis-e charge ports 23 are fully opened when the notch. 63 isvalignedwithithe slot 54'; and the lower end portion-53 0f; the: control-lever: cmoved thereagainst;

In: addition to the aforesaid: flow: regulating mechanism, .thezhopper' Ill includes a channel bracket 64 secured to each .of the end. walls M, and. I5; A sleeve-:is secured toheachqofuthe channel brackets 54; while a rubber tired wheel. 66 is rotatable about said sleeve 65. A pairof co-axial armatureshafts G'I and- 68 Jare rotatably supported-at the outer: ends thereof by v the 1 hol low-sleeves 65', 65.. Th'eshafts'SIIandBB arel'driv-i ably connected; to -the: hubs 69,169 ofv-the wheels 663 -66- through the. shears pins .10; .101. Secured to? each of the shafts fi'lc and 68 adjacent the end. walls I4 and -l 5, is a thrust collar .1 I and a sealing. collar "14: The -inner endsof the: shafts 61, 61' arerotatably supporteddoy"the bearing sleeves 12, 12 whichare in turn' secured tothe center post: I 8, while in addition the inner ends of' the shat- $961, 68 are each provided. with a thrust collar-13a Thus as 'thespreaderis drawn for-' wardythe turning-*motion -of the'wheels 66 is transmitted through the shear pins '10 to-the armature shaftsfil and 68;

Secured to the armature shafts 61 and Stand spaced therealong -a -manner conforming to the spacing -betweemtheslots-25 of--the-discharge ports 2 3', area plurality of dis'k shapedmembers- 1 i whi'ch provide' means 'for making dyhamicthe discharge ports 23; in the manner-described-in my Ifiprojectingr alternatel in *oppositedirectionsz spiders .10 or-:agitator-.;vanes are; spaced on;;the-- mately" degrees out gofqphaseywith each pthe lator: plate 51set to theidesiredgrate of discharg shafts16'1 and... intermediatethe diskwishane members 15; Each of the spiders 181 includes t pair'of-agitator: arms 19 andctflgextendmg long tudinally; oncopposite sides there01' ;and: 341211110X In additiomtthe two-end members 15 oneach of. the: shafts 161: and 68 g are: eaeh; pr0yided, with:.-a pair of ragitator: arms 19 ,andyBG, jto make more; completexthe agitationz and; mixing- 0f;- the:;.-mai terial within thehopper 10.

To use-thespreadergshcwne'inz thedrawingssi $1 3.9 drawbarg iit; is :first;:hitc.he.d :to: the: tractor OthBIi propelling means; the;"hopper: 0 is filledw witlrxmaterial. to. be: spread, gandythep; iiowwregu-t As the spreader-moves forward, ;the rotat ing wheels ;66, Efiturntheshafts 6i and 58;and;.the;l members #15 and; spidersgla fastened therQ Q These latter devices: operate to efiiciently agi; I.

. tate material within the hopper l0, and togalterr;

nately charge each ,ofgtheedischarge ports;23; with material and thereafter drive a portionof said; material therethrough; the quantity of material; dis har ed beinga functionapf the itionl fe the shutters :2 6 and, 21 3 relative to the: discharge; ports 23; As shown :above.theifiow-qregulatnre plate 5'1, operating asa stop member'limitingmo tion l of the lower; end portion ;53 of the control; leverfit, provides a manSZf0KmlQ 1fihQ 5 4 1111: ters 26 andz'ltothe exactposition-each timethe; handleifiis movedtoward the hopper l 0;; Mer e 1y by reaching. back and movingt el andle. 56 the operator can ratphis election-,;and-without even; looking at anyscale,0r other indicating;;devioe,. either open the. shutters ;,2 6; and; 21 to the desired position, or elsecompletelyclcse; of: thexdischarge, ports 23to stop all jflow of material;

To meet the; degree ltorwhich the dischar e;- ports 23, are openedsupon actuation; 0f;the; ;con; trol lever: 5%,. the operator first;closestheshutters.v 26 and Nyloosens the thumb screw, nut 59 andv repositions the flow regulator plate :51: until that stop'iedge 60;. or 6 i; whichup pvides the; desired; rate of fiow, iszaligned ;with..:the; slot;;54-.; The thumb screwnut; 59 isthenytightened dOWII,'1-i 30".;. lock the plate 51 in, place; By making the; step edges 60. and ,6! substantially,"perpendicularto their respective radii, there is;no; appreciableficcentric load exerted on the p1ate-5lg upon actu-y; ation of the control lever 50,: tending; to cause; said platelil to, rotate out0f; p0sition. Thus the lock nut 59 can'besmall and light, ;as, sh .0wn'.?: thereby 'making the resetting;operationgalmost as rapid and simple asthe closing and-opening; operations.

Referring now -to -l-"ig.- 2, itwill be observed that-the series of stopedges fill-is provided with a double scale, the one ranging from 50 pounds-to: 2000 pounds per- 'acre,,while-theothery ranges from4150 poundsfto 2000jpounds peracre. De'-' pending on his'needs, theuser can setthe apv paratus to operate .at eitheronefi-goffthjese, two sets of readings, by adjusting the closedpositiom of the shutters 26 and 27 by means of the thread? ed eye bolts46 and 48.

Having thus fully disclosed my novel,flovvregulator mechanism for: material, spreaders;. ,and demonstrated its utility by. referencetoa specific;

, embodiment; ias usedwithia preferredttyp zaofmaez,

terial feeding mechanism, I claim as my invention:

1. In a material spreader, a hopper having at least one discharge port in the bottom thereof, at least one ported slidable shutter below and adjacent to said bottom, means on said hopper for supporting and guiding said shutter, a first lever pivotally connected to said hopper, means connecting said first lever to said shutter and adapted to translate oscillatory movement of said first lever into a reciprocal motion at said shutter, a hand lever, means pivotally supporting said hand lever on said material spreader, a link connecting said hand lever to said first lever, a turnable stop plate the axis of rotation of which is in the plane of rotation of said hand lever, said stop plate being positioned on said material spreader to limit rotation of said hand lever in that direction which causes said shutters to move to uncover said discharge ports, said stop plate having a plurality of flat detent surfaces lying on radii of different lengths, and each substantially perpendicular to its respective radius, and means for locking said stop member against turning.

2; In a material spreader, a hopper having at least one discharge port in the bottom thereof, at least one ported slidable shutter below and adjacent to said bottom, means on said hopper for supporting and guiding said shutter, a first lever pivotally connected to said hopper, means connecting said first lever to said shutter and adapted to translate oscillatory movement of said first lever into a reciprocal motion at said shutter,

a second lever and means pivotally supporting said second lever on said material spreader, means interconnecting said levers, a turnable stop member the axis of rotation of which is in the plane of rotation of said second lever, said stop member being positioned on said material spreader to limit rotation of said second lever in that direction which causes said shutters to move to uncover said discharge ports, said stop member having a plurality of detent surfaces lying on radii of different lengths, and means for locking said stop member against turning.

3. The combination with a hopper having at least one discharge port therein, and a shutter plate movable relative to said port to adjust the flow area thereof, of a drawbar extending from said hopper and having a slot therein between the two ends thereof, a brace member extending from said hopper to said drawbar beyond said slot, a control lever pivotally secured to said brace member, one end of said control lever extending through said slot in said drawbar, linkage between said shutter plate and said one end of said control lever, a threaded pin extending above said drawbar adjacentv that end of said slot toward which said one end of said control lever moves as said lever is moved to open said discharge ports, a plate turnable on said threaded pin and having a plurality of flat detent surfaces lying on radii of diiferent lengths and each substantially perpendicular to its respective radius, and a fastener on said threaded pin for binding said plate against turning.

4. The combination with a hopper having at least one discharge port therein, and a shutter plate movable relative to said port to adjust the flow area thereof, of a drawbar extending from said hopper and having a slot therein between the two ends thereof, a brace member extending from said hopper to said drawbar, a control lever pivotally secured to said brace member, one end of said control lever extending through said slot in said drawbar, actuating linkage between said shutter plate and said control lever, a stop member and means rotatably mounting said stop member on said drawbar adjacent to that end of said slot toward which said one end of said control lever moves as said lever is moved to open said discharge ports, said stop member having a plurality of detent surfaces lying on radii of different lengths, and means for locking said stop member against turning.

5. In a material spreader including a hopper having at least one discharge opening therein, a shutter slidable to cover said discharge opening in varying degrees, and linkage for moving said shutter, means for controlling the movement of said shutter to open said discharge opening a predetermined amount, said other means comprising: a threaded pin and a stop plate turnable thereon, said stop plate being positioned to intercept and limit the movement of said linkage in that direction which causes said shutter to move to uncover said discharge opening, the periphery of said stop plate having a plurality of flat detent surfaces therein lying on radii of different length and each substantially perpendicular to its respective radius, and a fastener on said'threaded pin to bind said stop plate against turning.

6. In a material spreader including a hopper having at least one discharge opening therein, a shutter movable to cover said discharge opening in varying degrees, and means for moving said shutter, other means for controlling the movement of said shutter to open said discharge opening a predetermined amount, said other means comprising: a turnable stop member the axis of rotation of which is in the plane of rotation of said lever, said stop member being positioned to limit the movement of said shutter moving means in that direction which causes said shutter to move to uncover said discharge opening, said stop member having a plurality of detent surfaces lying on radii of different lengths, and means for locking said stop member against turning.

7. In a material spreader including a hopper having at least one discharge opening therein, a shutter movable to cover said discharge opening in varying degrees, and means for moving said shutter, including a lever, other means for controlling the movement of said shutter to open said discharge opening a predetermined amount, said other means comprising: a movable stop member having a stepped edge portion, means adjustably positioning said stop member to place different sections of said stepped edge portion in the plane of movement of said lever, to adjustably limit the movement of said shutter moving means in that direction which causes said shutter to move to uncover said discharge ports, and releasable means for locking said stop member against movement.

8. In a material spreader including a control handle movable substantially in one plane for opening and closing a shutter, means for adjusting the extent to which said shutter can be opened, comprising: a turnable stop plate the axis of rotation of which is in said plane, said stop plate being so positioned on said material spreader that an edge portion of said plate intercepts and limits the movement of said control handle in that direction which causes said shutter to open, said stop plate having a plurality of graduated detent surfaces so arranged in said edge portion that rotation of said stop plate changes shutter can be opened, comprising: a stop plate rotatable in a plane transverse to the plane of movement of the control handle, said stop plate having a plurality of graduated detent surfaces in an edge portion thereof, said plate movable to selectively position said detent surfaces to intercept and thereby limit the movement of said control handle, and means for locking said stop plate. 7

10. In a material spreader of the character described including a movable control handle for opening and closing a shutter: a stop member having'a plurality ofgraduated detent surfaces formed in an edge portion thereof, said member movable in a plane transverse to the plane of movement of the control handle to a plurality of successive positions whereby at least one of said detent surfaces intercepts and limits the movement of said control handle, and means for locking said stop member.

11. In a material spreader a control handle movable substantially in one plane to reciprocate a part remote from the handle for the adjustment of the spreader and means for adjusting the extent of such reciprocation comprising an eccentrically mounted turnable stop plate the axis of rotation of which is in said plane, the body of the stop plate being so positioned that an edge portion of the plate intercepts and limits the movement of said control handle in that direction which causes reciprocation of the remote part in one sense, whereby rotation of the stop plate changes the extent of said reciprocation; and means for locking the stop plate against rotation.

EDMOND A. J UZWIAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 18,735 Geiss et al Dec. 1, 1857 195,809 Durbin Oct. 2, 1877 331,600 Zeigler et a1. Dec. 1, 1885 464,399 Stewart Dec. 1, 1891 493,146 Bender Mar. 7, 1893 554,262 Grandstaff Feb. 11, 1896 639,754 Morgan Dec. 26, 1899 736,300 Sandifer et a1. Aug. 11, 1903 793,792 Johnson July 4, 1905 1,051,958 Jones et a1. Feb. 4, 1913 1,289,618 Billings Dec. 31, 1918 1,516,954 Cole Nov. 25, 1924 1,574,437 Martin Feb. 23, 1926 1,778,622 Bergsten Oct. 14, 1930 1,840,602 Pender Jan. 12, 1932 2,046,603 Baumgardner July 7, 1936 2,245,152 Masters June 10, 1941 2,290,712 Robinson July 21, 1942 2,318,064 Delaney May 4, 1943 2,323,995 Hiroshima July 13, 1943 2,337,952 Whitten Dec. 28, 1943 

